Immediate Help Needed

Every day, we see pain and suffering happening in the world

We see it on television; we hear it on the radio; we are immersed in it through our social media feeds. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Chicago has been seeing the same pain and suffering in the faces of our neighbors every day since 1857 - the homeless dying on the streets; families that are evicted because they cannot pay their rent; children who show up to school hungry; seniors suffering from illness because they are unable to pay their medical bills.

We also see a staggering increase in requests due to the Illinois budget crisis, and sadly, a staggering decrease in philanthropic giving due to economic uncertainty. This is why WE NEED YOUR IMMEDIATE HELP.

Without additional support, we may have to cut funding to some of our most valuable programs, turning away the most vulnerable of our neighbors.

"Sing a Joyful Noise" - Church Choir Challenge

Thanks to all of those who attended and supported our 8th Annual Friends of the Poor Benefit: Sing a Joyful Noise on Sunday, April 17 at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace.

Our biggest fundraiser of the year attracted more than 500 guests including members of our top five competing choirs participating in our inaugural Church Choir Challenge!

It was nothing short of spiritually uplifting to have the choirs from Prince of Peace (Lake Villa), St. Benedict (Chicago), St. Francis de Sales (Lake Zurich), St. Peter (Antioch), and St. Vincent de Paul (Chicago), perform in a friendly sing-off competition for a chance to win up to $2,500 to be used for a cause within their own church. Everyone was a winner and each choir was awarded at least $1,000 to take back to their parish.

Our Chicago celebrity panel of judges which included FOX32 News Anchor Natalie Bomke and her husband Ed Swiderski (winner on season five of The Bachelorette), Associate Professor of Education Leadership at DePaul University Fr. Anthony Dosen, C.M., House of Blues Senior Talent Buyer Sean McDonough, and CBS 2 News Reporter Mike Puccinelli selected St. Benedict as the winner of the Church Choir Challenge.

St. Benedict came out on top, but all of the choirs performed beautifully. It was a "joyful noise" indeed.

Net proceeds will be divided among our ten districts throughout Cook and Lake counties to fund new programs that offer direct service to the poor and their local communities including our new systemic change program at the Pope Francis Center. The Center at 2815 N. Kimball in Chicago works with individuals whose needs are of a chronic nature.

We are blessed by all the good works done by good people. Without the generosity of our Vincentian family, friends, and supporters, we would not have the resources to make such an impact on the hundreds of thousands of lives that are changed each year through the compassion in action that we see at St. Vincent de Paul Chicago.

Again, we appreciate everyone's support and hope to see you next year at our 9th Annual Friends of the Poor Benefit!

Bargain Hunters Delight!

The St. Vincent de Paul thrift stores now serving Orland Park and Libertyville. Whether shopping or donating, you are giving!